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6l5T NEW YORK INFANTRY. 
In till- WlifstnrM. 



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Ntw York at Gettysburg. 455 



(INSCRIPTIONS.) 



(Front.) 

61st REGT. X. Y. IXFY. 

1st brig. 1st DIV. 

2nd corps. 

ORGANIZED SEPTEMBER 18C1. 

MUSTERED OUT JULY 14th 1865. 

(Rcxcrsc.) 

This position held by the 

6IST ReGT. N. Y. IXFY. 

ON the afternoon of 

July 2, 1863. 

Casualties, 

Killed H; Wounded 5(5. 

Total Loss, 62. 






4.iO 



New Yokk at Geit^sblkg. 



Comrades: 



DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS. 

tflsr REGIMENT IXKAN'TKV. 

July I, 1889. 

Oration ok Lieut. Cuaui.ks A. Fci.lek. 



It lacks but a little of twenty-six years since the members of this organiza- 
tion, or some of tiieni — all who could be — were present on this very spot, 
then as active members 01 a hardy, fighting regiment. 

Those here to-day who responded to the order, " Forward," on th£ 2d of 
July, 1863, if they then thought of anything beyond the immediate present, 
did not look ahead a quarter of a century and anticipate this occasion. We 
all felt then that a desperate encounter was before us, and we were mostly 
anxious to acquit ourselves like men. 

To-day we, the survivors of the Si.xty-first Regiment of New York Volun- 
teers, meet to dedicate a monument sacred to our dead who fell on this field, 
and in recognition of the stalwart services of the regiment. 

The story might be briefly told, and still be wonderfully eloquent. We went 
into the light with less than 100 muskets, and we left on the field over 60 
killed and wounded. Gettysburg is by no means the only great battle in 
which our little regiment did deeds of valor. But it is not practicable to erect 
costly monuments at every place where soldierly acts were performed worthy 
of connncmoration. 

This is one of the g^eat battlefields of the world, and is, so far as post-bellum 
attentions go, the greatest. There is no oilier place on this broad earth, noted 
as a battle site, where so much has been ilone by art and labor to make it 
worthy of pilgrimage as here. This expenditure and expression is not a 
forced and artificial affair. No one has said that it is the proper thing for the 
leading nation of the world to have a pet battlefield, and in assent selected this 
one. Many things conjoined to make it the place where people from all na- 
tions would desire to visit. The location was fitted by nature for a great battle. 
Here two well-matched and unexcelled armies joined issue, in what each at the 
time believed might be the decisive struggle. With us it was a battle in 
defence of our firesides; with the enemy, they felt that to be broken up and 
routed was the grave of their cause. The number engaged was great, the 
fighting was fierce and prolonged, the dead and wounded on each side were 
numbered by the thousands. It was a time when the people. North and South, 
outside of the armies, looked on witli bated breath, and regarded the result as 
almost conclusive. When the plans of the enemy were here brought to a halt, 
when, in place of a glorious victory, he pulled out under cover of night and 
marched for a ford over the Potomac, which he placed between himself and 
our following troops, there was throughout the North such a sense of relief 
and gratitude that its remembrance has not faded away, but is readily recalled; 
and, therefore, it is that this has become the place of places in regard to the 
War of the Rebellion. 



New York at Gettysburg. 457 

We meet to-day around this granite pile in response to a sentiment. The 
State of New York has expended thousands on this field in response to 
sentiment. The effect of all this effort and expenditure will be considerable 
and prolonged; bodies of men such as we are from a dozen different States 
cannot come together after years of separation and dedicate a monument in 
memory of deeds here transacted, without such action having a lasting moral 
effect that will radiate as does light and heat from the sun. 

Our patriotism is brightened, our regard for the land we fought for is 
enhanced, and we will return to our homes better fitted to do the remnant of 
our work, part of which is to perfect the Government we saved. It is proper 
that we should briefly refer to the history of the regiment that calls us here, 
and makes possible this occasion. What eventually became the Sixty-first 
New Y'ork Volunteers, was at the start named the " Clinton Guards," and 
Spencer W. Cone was its first colonel. It was organized, uniformed, drilled 
and armed at Staten Island, between the months of August and November, 
1861. During the time spent on Staten Island, difficulties of some sort re- 
sulted in a change of officers, and in, what may be said to have been the 
making of the regiment, the appointment of Francis C. Barlow to the lieutenant 
colonelcy. 

I think it was in November that we left the Island about 700 strong, a fact 
that convicts the State Government of a blunder, little short of a crime. That 
fact and the later one, of organizing new regiments when further requisitions 
were made for men instead of keeping full the ranks of veteran regiments 
whose numbers had been thinned by battle and disease, reduced the efficiency 
of New York troops at least one-half. No possible excuse could be rendered 
for such a practice, except the desire on the part of the State officials to furnish 
offices for ambitious men who wanted shoulder straps without earning them 
by service in the old regiments that had received the Ijaptism of blood." 

The regiment arrived at Washington without incident, and went into camp 
for a week or two on Kendall Green. The next move was across the Potomac, 
where a camp was made about three miles out of Alexandria, called Camp 
California. Here the winter was spent in drilling, camp guard, and picket 
duty. It was a trying time to the men; the measles took down many, and 
there were numerous deaths from that and other diseases. We were' here 
brigaded with the Fifth New Hampshire, the Fourth Rhode Island, and the 
Eighty-first Fennsylvania, under Gen. O. O. Howard. During the winter the 
Fourth Rhode Island was detached, and the Sixty-fourth New York took its 
place. The first real campaign of the regiment 'was the hard march to the 
Rappahannock, where the sight was permitted us of a handful of withdrawin<r 
Johnnies, and where we received a few harmless shots. This bootless move''- 
ment was valuable in disposing of the surplus and unnecessary things which 
the men had received from loving Iiands when they said " good'-bve," and had 
up to that time deemed essential to their armv'work. About 'tlie time of 
leavmg the Potomac for the Peninsula, the organization of the army was 
changed by corps fornntions, and our brigade was called the First of the 
Third Division of the Second Corps. If there was anv burning desire in any 
man of the Sixty-first to be a fighting soldier and go where there was likely 



45S NUW VuKK AT Gett^sclrc. 

to be soimihiup bfsuii> brass bands, dress ])aradcs and j^rand reviews, he 
cuuld liardly have been better scr\xd. 

Barlow was almost unapproachable for bravery, skill and discipline. Howard 
demonstrated that a godly man could fight, and that it was not necessary to 
be wicked to be valiant. General Richardson — "Old Dick," as we lovingly 
called hin) — cai)tured the admiration of every man in the division the day they 
looked upon his herculean frame. And \vc all cheered for .'^un1ner, the grand 
old fighter from " way back," whose locks were bleached with years of army 
service, but whose " eye was not dimmed nor his natural force abated." With 
these surroundings, was it likely that wc could return, go up I'.roadway, and 
liave a reception, without a casualty? From the commander of the corps to 
the colonel of the regiment, it was believed that the Rebellion wa> to be 
conquered by hard fighting at short range. 

We were in the second line at the ridiculous siege of Yorktown. Williams- 
burg and \\ est Point were fought before we got there. But few who made 
it will ever forget the night march from Yorktown towards Williamsburg. 

On Saturday, May 31, 1862, we were in camp at Cold ilarbor. It was after- 
noon. Suddenly the thunder of Casey's guns greeted our ears. Johnston was 
making a mighty effort to crush our left before help could come from across 
the swollen Chickahominy. In a cw minutes we were under arms and await- 
ing our turn to cross the log bridge that was dancing on the surface of the 
stream. We reached the battlefield of Fair Oaks after dark; too late for a 
hand in that day's proceedings. It was our turn ne.xt day. Gallantly we 
were led, and the regiment vas no discredit to its colonel. We took in about 
400 muskets. 1 will not attempt a description of that battle, suffice it to say 
that we lost six officers killed. Colonel Fox in his valuable work on " Regi- 
mental Losses in the W ar," says that the average is 16 men killed to I officer. 
That estimate would make a loss of 102. Company C lost in killed, 2 officers 
and 6 men. If that rate was maintained in all of the companies, it would make 
a death loss of 80. W hatcvcr may have been the actual loss, it was heavy. 
The regiment stood like a rock, and its "cputation with every other one in 
the First Brigade was made, as a " fighting regiment." 

Then foUowetl three weeks in the trenches, with fre(|uent picket duty t!iat 
was hazardous. Farly on tlie morning of the 2(jlh of June, our corps fell back 
on the line of the railroad. We passed the commissary depot where millions 
of rations were piled, to which the torch had been api>lied. A little bevond, 
at Peach Orchard, the advance of the enemy overtook us. We formed line 
of battle, and maintained our position. Wc were under destructive Rebel artil- 
lery fire, but wc were not engaged with nnisketry. Then we fell biok to 
Savage Station, where just at dark the corps had a brisk fight, and repulsed the 
enemy. This is the place where Suinncr was so disgusted that he came 
near disobeying the order of the commanding general to " fall back." The 
old fighter said it was against his practice and princii>les to run away from a 
beaten enemy. But McGellan was down on the gun boats seeking for a new 
spot in which to set his base, and the unwise orilcr coidd not he reversed. 

That night wc crossed \\ hite Oak Swamp, and the next rjay supported our 
batteries «jnder a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery. At this place we lost 



New Youk at Gettysburg. 459 

some n-iCn. but it was cliild's play with what was to follow. As the sun v.as 
going down, orders came for us to move. All the afternoon there had been 
heavy firing in the direction of Glcndalc. Now we were headed towards it. 
Soon the order came, " Step out; " then, " Double-quick; " and then, " Run." 
It would take too much time to attempt a description of that fight. In it we 
lost in killed and wounded, Dcming, Moore, Spencer, Gregory, and a good 
share of our men. It was fought after dark, and we aimed our muskets at the 
flash of the enemy's rifles. Towards morning we withdrew, and again formed 
our lines at Malvern Hill. This was a magnificent battle. The enemy were 
thoroughly whipped, but there was no one in authority to direct an onward 
movement; consequently the army fell back to Harrison's Landing. 

In due, or rather dilatory, course of time, with our corps we were again 
on the old camp ground of the winter before; then, at Arlington Heights; and 
finally, after Pope was beaten, we reached Centreville. We ought to have 
been in the Second Bull Run. One or more people ought to have been killed 
by slow torture, for this damnable blundering — or worse. 

Again, movements were started that resulted in the battle of Antietam, where 
brave fighting was done by piece-meal; where Lee ought to have been crushed, 
and where he wasn't. In this battle the Sixty-first, I believe, did the most 
brilliant thing in its career, in the capture of more of the enemy than it had 
men, and where Captain Greig took a Rebel battle flag. This was due to the 
generalship of Barlow. Here, on account of a dangerous wound, we parted 
company with the man who had up to that date given us a special character. 
Barlow was to lead us as colonel no more. When he rejoined the army, it 
was as general of a brigade in the Eleventh Corps. It was fortunate for 
us that the next in command was Nelson A. Miles. It is rare that any regi- 
ment has at one time two such men. 

\\'hile at Harper's Ferry, or on the way to Fredericksburg, a new company, 
under Captain Bain, reached us, and about doubled our numbers. On Decem- 
ber 13, 1862, we had a losing hand in the slaughter at Fredericksburg. It is 
said that while we were lying down on the right side of the road, behind the 
close-l>oard fence, that Miles was prospecting, and had sent back for permis- 
sion to charge the rifle pits beyond. If such is the case it was lucky for us, 
that a bullet clipped his throat in time to prevent such an heroic act; had it been 
done, some of us, who to-day can enjoy a good dinner, would have added our 
names to the list of " killed in battle." Miles recovered in time to lead the 
regiment at Chancellorsville, where he gained great credit by soldiership while 
m charge of the picket line. Our losses were not heavy in this campaign 
aside from Miles, who was dangerously wounded and never served again with 
the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Bn.ady succeeded him. 

In a few weeks' time we were again in motion, \^'e were going where the 
enemy led us, and that happened to be here. As I have said before, we had 
less than 100 muskets. There was not to exceed six in Company C, a com- 
pany that started out one of the strongest. Clearly do I now recall what 
hapi)ened as we reached this vicinity on the evening of the ist of July; how 
we stacked arms: ate supper; removed a rail fence and worked it into a line 
of rifle pits; went to bed, or rather rolled up in blankets and slept the sleep 



4Go New York at Gettysburg. 

of the just: how we were callotl at an early Iiour; prcparctl breakfast; had a 
thorouph iiisnoclion; ami ihcn moved towards ilie town. I renieniber passing 
our doctors in a lilllc ])iece of woods, and giving a good-bye shake of the hand, 
and moving on. I remember our position in the meadow, between the town 
and tlie " wheatfield." The brigade was closed in mass, the Sixty-first with 
97 men; then the Eighty-first Pennsylvania with, perhaps, 150; then the One 
hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania with 300 or 400; and the Fifth New 
Han:pshire with about 200. These numbers, except in the case of the Sixty- 
first, are estimates. I remember, while we were ner\ously awaiting the order 
to advance, the admonition of Colonel Cross, commanding the brigade. He 
said: " Men, you know what's before you; give'em hell!" Sickles' troops Inid 
been engaged for some time and were falling back; then came the order for 
tiie First Division to go to the rescue. The brigade moved by the left flank, 
and in that formation reached the narrow cross-roa<l in rear of the wheatfield. 
V\'e deployed by filing right and marching along the road. When deployed 
to have fronted would have presented our backs to the Rebels, and that was 
not the side wc had been accustomed to present to them. There was no time 
to countermarch. We, therefore, " Icft-faceil. " and advanced officers and file 
closers aJiead of the men. We scaled the fence and were in the field — the 
celebrated " wheatfield." We advanced to our position, supposed to be about 
where this monument is located. Here the officers and file closers took their 
proper place and awaited the onset. Soon it came. Well do 1 remember the 
first rebel that showed himself, and in an instant the appearance of the entire 
force. The enemy were partially protected by the stone wall. We were with- 
out any cover. Here we remained until 63 of our number were killed or 
seriously wounded. It is, of course, but seldom that a regiment loses such 
a percentage of its men. Before the fight ended I ceased to be an eye 
witness, and what I know of its heroism I know from the lips of others. But 
history says the old regiment was at Bristoe Station, Wilderness, Corbin's 
Bridge. Po River, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, 
Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, and Reams' Station. 

The Sixty-first was scant in muskets from the start. Before the first battle, 
sickness, slinks, and details reduced the fighting force 50 per cent.; and be- 
ginning with Fair Oaks, the bullets of the Johnnies kept down the number, 
so that frequently it was less than 100. 

Colonel Fox says that the records show that of all the regiments in the United 
States service during the Rebellion — and there were hundreds of them — 
only 45 lost 200 and over in killed and mortally wounded. Of these the Fifth 
New Hampshire lost the largest number of any regiment in the service, 295, 
of which 18 only were officers. The Eighty-first Pennsylvania lost 208. The 
Sixty-first New York, 189, and of that number 18 were officers. You will see 
by Colonel Fox's book that few regiments lost over 10 officers killed. For 
example: the One Huu(!rc<l and Fortieth Pennsylvania lost 188, and but 10 
officers. Most regiments entered the field with a plump thousand, and some 
had a large number of recruits. This tells the story. The Sixty-first had part 
of the time a full complement of officers: hence there was the same chance for 
large losses, as if she had carried full ranks. She was in the battles. She never 



New Yokk at Gettysburg. 461 

let go her grip. Estimating losses on the basis of officers killed, she would 
be rated with a death loss of at least 250. Few regiments graduated from 
their numbers. She furnished two major generals, and such as Barlow and 
Miles. Among the tribes, she was like Jacob's Benjamin — small in numbers; 
but she had in prodigal abundance Sauls and Jonathans. No good man who 
ever served in her ranks would ever to-day exchange her number for that 
of any other. Her dead were found on almost every infantry battlefield of 
the Armv of the Potomac from Fair Oaks, June i, 1862, to Appomattox, April 
6, 1865. ' 

There was but little in her make up of fuss and feathers; but it was solid 
work. Her blows told, and if her enemy ever came to personally know her, 
he must have respected her courage and endurance. 

This monument, about which we are now gathered, plain, solid, and en- 
during, well typifies her characteristics. Here it will stand for years after the 
last one of her ranks has been mustered out to join the countless throng of 
those who have been and are not. 

For myself, and I trust that I speak the sentiments of every one who ever 
had honorable membership with her, I am proud of the fact that I had a 
voluntary hand in the War for the Union, and that my efforts were put forth 
in tlie ranks of the Sixty-first New York. 



TRANSFER OF MONUMENT, 

Address of Capt. Lee Nutting. 
Comrades: 

We are assembled here this beautiful Sabbath afternoon to dedicate this 
monument erected by the liberality of tlie great State of which we are citizens, 
to the memory of her sons of the Sixty-first New York Regiment, who fell 
on this and other fields, in defence of the Union and the Flag. 

This monument by its rough simplicity fittingly typifies, and by its sub- 
stantial outline shows forth, the solidity of the regiment for which it stands. 
The Sixty-first New York was a service regiment; when the call to duty 
came it was always ready. On this and many another battlefield it testified 
its devotion to Country and Fkig, and sealed that devotion with the blood 
of its members. Of the 93 men who came upon this field in its ranks to battle 
for the right, 63 fell, killed or wounded. 

So stern was the discipline inculcated and conmianded by Col. Francis C. 
Barlow, and so renowned did the regiment become by reason of that dis- 
cipline, that finally the veteran regiments of the division dubbed us " Barlow's 
Regulars." From Yorktown to Appomattox, the colors of the Sixty-first 
u ere always to the front, and Colonel Fox, in his book on " Regimental Losses " 
puts the Sixty-first in the list of " fighting regiments," who never had soft 
snaps, but fought, and fought from start to finish. The regiment while nomin- 
ally 770 strong when it left New York, numbered probably not over 600 men. 
We were sworn into the United States service by companies, and captains 



462 New Vokk at riicrrysBURG. 

ambitious to he mustered, ami iiui lia\tny the retiuisite numl>cr of men, 
borrowed from otlicr coni|>aiiies for the occasion. I mention this, as I notice 
that Colonel Fox names tite Fifth New Hampshire of our brigade, as tlie 
infantry regiment losintj the greatest percentage of men in action in the 
whole army. I am satistied that if Colonel Fox had made his calculations 
on the basis of 600 instead of 770, he might have awarded the honor to us. 

But there is no occasion to sing the praises of this (to say the least) re- 
nowned regiment of the grand olil Second Corps. Its memories are en- 
shrined in all your hearts, and I have no doubt you will teach your children 
and children's children to reverence its memory, and tell them of its deeds 
until they are proud to exclaim, '" My father belonged to, and fought in the 
Sixty-first New York, the regiment which gave to the country the tsvo great 
generals, Francis C. Barlow and Nelson A. Miles; that captured four tlags 
from the enemy, and brought home its own, unsullied by traitor's touch; that 
on two occasions cajitured more prisoners than it had men in its ranks: that 
while willing to shake hands with the old Johnnies, never forget that we 
fought for Freedom and L'nion, and they for Slavery and Disunion; and that 
we stood for tiie rigiit. and they for the wrong." 

Comrades, as I look over and through your attenuated ranks, I behold an- 
other line; and in it I see Massett, Plumb, Garland, Angell, Deming and 
Owens. Grouped around them I see a long line of the private soldiers of our 
old regiment, who with their comrades of like rank, at the points of their 
bayonets, finally conquered and won for us the peace of Appomattox; and it 
seems to me as I gaze upon them, that from their voiceless lips there comes a 
silent benediction on our proceedings here this day. 

And now, Mr. Secretary, I have the honor and pleasure in behalf of this 
regiment and the State we rci)resent, of turning over to you this monument, 
hoping and trusting that tlie Gettysburg Battletield Memorial .\ssociation will 
guard it as vigilantly as the regiment it represents guarded the interests of the 
Republic. 



HISTORIAL SKETCH. 
By C.m't. Lee Nlttixg. 

The Sixty-first New York Volunteers — "Clinton Guards" — was raised 
and organized on Staten Island to serve for three years of the war. It was 
mustered into service of the United States from August 22 to October 26, 
1861. Seven companies re-enlisted in the winter of 1863 for three years, and 
they, with the recruits, were mustered out July 14, 1865. in accordance with 
orders from the War Department. 

The first colonel was Spencer W. Cone, and commanded by him. we loft 
Staten Island, November 9, 1861, en route for Washington, where wc arrived 
without adventure, after a hearty midnight supper given us by the loyal 
ladies of I'hiladelphia. We encamped for a few days on Kendall Green, from 
whence we marched to McCloud's Mills, three miles from .Mexandria. where 
we went into winter quarters and settled down to hard and laborious drill. 
The regiment was composed of seven companies raised in and around New 



New York at Gettysburg. 463 

York City, and tb.rec companies from Hamilton and Madison Counties, the 
latter being largely officered by stuJents iroin Hamilton University. The 
seven city companies were recruited mainly in the coal boxes, and were rough, 
insubordinate, and, as it seemed, poor material; but under the exacting disci- 
pline they became model soldiers, and were found to be better able than the 
countrymen to withstand the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. At 
Kendall Green, Lieut. Col. Francis C. Barlow joined the regiment, a medium- 
sized, slender man, with no beard, and looking so much like a boy that he 
was named the " Boy General " when he attained that rank. But though 
boyish looking, the spirit that animated Francis C. Barlow was a mighty one, 
and the discipline which he enforced and, above all, the gallantry and wisdom 
with which he led the Sixty-first into battle endeared him to both officers and 
men. As our poet, Quartermaster Wren, says in some doggerel verse com- 
posed to the air of Billy Barlow — 

Governor Morgan, he didn't do slow 
When he gave us a colonel in Billy Barlow. 

The surviving members of the regiment revere his memory. Singularly 
modest, no trumpet proclaimed his gallant deeds. In fact, he shrank from 
notoriety; and, yet, the fact remains that in our estimation no soldier from 
this State was his equal in anything which goes towards the making of a 
great soldier or general, and when New York finally writes the history of her 
sons who fought in the Great Rebellion, the name of Maj. Gen. Francis C. 
Barlow will occupy the highest niche in her Temple of Fame. 

In the spring of 1862, the Si.xty-first, then brigaded with the Fifth New- 
Hampshire, Eighty-first Pennsylvania and Si.xty-fourth New York, — the whole 
forming the First Brigade of the First Division, Second Army Corps, under 
the command of Brig. Gen. O. O. Howard,— marched to Manassas, and from 
there to the Rappahannock River, in pursuit of the rear guard of Johnston's 
army. The enemy sent a few shells back to us, but we did not get near 
enough to use our Enfields. 

Returning to Alexandria, we took the transport J. R. Spaulding, and steamed 
down to the Peninsula, landing by wading ashore at Ship Point, and assisting 
in various ways in the Siege of Yorktown. From Yorktown we marched in 
the night, and in mud and rain, to the assistance of our comrades at Williams- 
burg. Returning to Yorktown, we took transports up the York River to 
White House Landing, and from there marched to Deep Bottom on the 
Chickahominy. 

Heavy musketry firing aroused us Saturday afternoon. May 31, 1862, and 
our gallant old corps commander, Gen. E. \'. Sumner, ordered us to fall in. 
and marched us to the bridge heads. Farther he did not dare to go without 
orders, which General McClellan finally sent him, and we started to cross the 
river. The rain had caused the river to rise so that the frail bridges were 
afloat: but the marching column kept it solid and we passed over. We were 
soon halted and ordered to load with ball cartridges, and then it seemed at 
least a serious matter. Getting on the field about 9 p. ra., we were too late 
for the fight that day, but forming cohunn closed in mass, we were told to 



liUU 



464 KtW Wn.!. i.j UETTVSDrKG. 

lie down bcliind our gun stacks. The Kcbcl woumJcd lay on the wet ground 
around us, and we got our first tasle of the horrors of war. I know one 
soldier that, as he rolled liis blanket around hini tliat night, debated seriously 
whetlier he had not mistaken his vocation, and wlicther he would be able 
to stand the storm of tlic morrow. Sunday, June 1st, broke bright and clear, 
and French's Brigade was sent into the woods ahead of us. Then the storm 
broke; the air seemed filled with lead; and some of us were very much troubled 
in mind. Soon the regiment was ordered forward, and finally entere<l the 
woods relieving I'rench's men. We were received by the Johnnies with a 
heavy fire, which, before we were relieved, struck down one-third of tlie regi- 
ment killed or wounded. l'rcnch"s men having replenished their cartridge 
boxes, started in to relieve us, and when they had nicely gotten into the woods, 
ojiened fire on us. Colonel Cone had some time before this been dismissed, 
and Colonel Barlow commanded the regiment. The fire in the rear was 
more than green troops could stand, and, supposing we were flanked, the 
regiment broke and started for the front. Colonel Barlow rushed up to tlie 
color bearer, and seizing the flag faced to the rear and planted the staff in 
the ground; the regiment drilled to rally on the colors, faced to the rear, and 
rallied on the flag. One of our captains went back, had the troops slop firing, 
and we faced about once more to the enemy. \\ hen relieved, we marched out 
at the cadenced step in column of fours, and through our colonel notified 
the general that we were ready again as soon as needed. General Howard 
lust his arm in this fight, I'air Oaks, near the jilace we were engaged. 

Breastworks were built, and for the next month v.e did picket duty; and 
that was dangerous work, as both sides were in a killing mood and casualties 
were of daily occurrence. Later on, the pickets of the contending forces 
did^not fire at each other, unless a forward movement was noticed. What 
was known as the change of base, commenced for us June 29th, and at Peach 
Oi chard and Savage Station we had sharp encounters with the enemy. Cross- 
ing White Oak Swamp, the morning of the 30th was spent in supporting our 
batteries, which were handled so eflFectively that " Stonewall " Jackson was, 
for the whole day, jireventcd from crossing. During the afternoon Company 
H, Captain Mount, was sent out to picket the further side of the swamp. 
Towards evening the firing grew heavy in the direction of Charles City Cross 
Koads, and the regiment was ordered at the double-cjuick to the support of 
Kearny, who was hard pressed by Longstrcct. Captain Broady had been 
sent to call in Mount's company, but did not succeed in finding the regiment 
in the darkness and confusion, and was finally ordered to join the comf^any to 
the right of the Fifth New Hampshire, who occupied the reserve line of the 
brigade. 

In the meantime the regiment advancing through the woods in the clark- 
nesi came to an open field, and was saluted by the colonel of a Georgia reginient 
with the inquiry: " \\hat regiment is that? Surrender, or I will Mow you 
to hell!" Some of our fellows answered, "Sixty-first Xev, York," and Bar- 
low pave the command, " Ready! Aim! Fire! " Both regiments fired at this 
order, and at the close range the destruction w.-.s awful. The fire was kept 
up until both regiments were about annihilated. The writer was with Mc unt's 



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